Hines proposes city-county collaboration on bus security

In the wake of a debate over safety on Milwaukee County buses, Milwaukee Common Council President Willie Hines proposed the county have the Milwaukee Police Department provide security, rather than a private company.

Milwaukee police started patroling county buses this month after fights broke out on some routes. The county contracts with G4S Wackenhut to provide bus security and Hines proposes the county end that contract and negotiate an agreement to have MPD provide the service. The department has similar agreements to provide security for events at the Bradley Center and Miller Park. Hines reached out to County Board Chairman Lee Holloway in a letter on Tuesday.

Hines said the security plan in place now is not working.

“When you have any incident, as such, it never looks good for a municipality, or a community or a neighborhood,” Hines said. “While we know it is not reflective of the entire city, it does put a spot on all of the great things we do in the city of Milwaukee.”

Harold Mester, County Board spokesman, said Holloway appreciates Hines and Police Chief Ed Flynn’s willingness to cooperate with the county on bus security.

“We need all hands on deck for this problem, and that’s why the chairman is happy the city is offering to work with us,” Mester said.